TOMS RIVER, NJ – Toms River Democrats are in disarray and scrambling to replace key figures on the 2023 November election ballot. Last week, Kajal Lal, a council candidate for the party, withdrew from the race after taking a federal job with the Biden Administration.
Today, Democrats in Toms River are soliciting residents to run for office, in an apparent sign that few loyalists within the party are willing to challenge the team of Republican mayoral nominee Dan Rodrick.
Rumors swirled in July that even John Furey, the candidate for Mayor, is seeking a way out of the November race. Insiders in the party were soliciting Terrance Turnbach and Jonathan Petro for the position. Reportedly, both men turned down the offer.
Calls were made in recent weeks to find a replacement for Furey, who has not yet officially backed out of the race.
Last night, robocalls were made to Democrat voters, asking them to step up for the challenge.
“Hi, I’m calling from the Toms River Democratic Committee,” the voice on the robocall stated. “We’re recruiting for school board and Toms River Towns Council candidates.”
Councilman Dan Rodrick, who is favored to win the race in November, said the call shows how out of touch the Democrat party in Toms River are with the resident of Toms River.
“These are the same radical Democrats who run the party in Toms River that said Mo Hill was a great mayor and doing a great job,” Rodrick said. “They are the same Democrats who pushed for the Downtown redevelopment plan and rubber-stamped everything Mo Hill wanted to get done as mayor. I’m not surprised they’re having a tough time.”
Democrats are also desperate to run candidates for the Toms River School Board, where Democrat powerbroker attorney Stephan Leone serves as the school board’s legal counsel.
Leone’s future at the school board hinges on Democrats retaining their majority on the board, which is supposed to be non-partisan.